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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Fresno at index 105 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market (that's pre-tax, of course).
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Fresno at index 105 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market (that's pre-tax, of course).
Fresno comes in at #1. Rent is $1,693 a month. Household income is $66,804. The cost of living index is 105. You get the picture (that's pre-tax, of course).
Contrast this with: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. And depending on your situation, the cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
Bottom line: Fresno, CA leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Fresno, CA — cost index 105, rent $1,693/mo, income $66,804
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
545,716 residents · California
A closer look at Fresno: the cost index of 105 breaks down to a Utilities index of 96 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 112 (weakest). Median rent is $1,693/month — 11% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,804, meaning locals spend about 30% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
511,648 residents · Arizona
Here's Mesa by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 105. Rent: $1,554/month — for better or worse — . Income: $78,779/year. Home price: $432,764. Population: 511,648. The strongest category is Utilities at 96; the most expensive is Housing at 112. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $4,092 per year vs. the national median. This is the type of edge you don't see advertised.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Fresno (ranked #1) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,693/mo, while Mesa (ranked #2) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,554/mo — a 0-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Fresno is $1,693/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $202 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Fresno is $386,426, which is 5.8× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.